Unconventional experimental technologies available for phase change materials (PCM) characterization. Part 1. Thermophysical properties

Abstract

The use of thermal energy storage by phase change materials (PCM) is increasing in interest for building applications. For the deployment of the technology, appropriate characterization of PCM and hybrid PCM is essential, but it is not always possible to carry it out with conventional equipment, mainly due to the sample size. This paper shows equipment developed in different research centers and universities to analyze thermophysical properties, such as specific heat, latent heat and melting temperature, and thermal conductivity and diffusivity of PCM and hybrid PCM materials.

The work is partially funded by the European Union (COST Action COST TU0802), the Spanish government (ENE2011-28269-C03-01, ENE2011-28269-C03-02 and ENE2011- 22722), TUBITAK (project 110M032), and by Qatar National Foundation through the NPRP No.: 4-465-2-173. The authors would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to the research group GREA (2009 SGR 534) and their research group DIOPMA (2009 SGR 645), both in Spain. Laia Miró would like to thank the Spanish Government for her research fellowship (BES-2012-051861).